The Tale of Chicken Knight

Today’s post features the Next Day Animations mascot, Chicken Knight. (Yes, we are gifted in mascot-naming and those services can be added to your project at no additional cost.)

“What’s the story with your mascot?”

Back in 2014, we experimented with creating illustrations we might need in the future. Maybe some farm animals? How about some robots and… school supplies… and a ladybug? Unfortunately, we’re not psychic and many of these images never made it into a project. But the chicken and knight (and hundreds of other awesome drawings) were created by our incredible Lead Illustrator Dayna… just sitting around waiting to be needed… (the drawings, not Dayna).

A year later: We were prepping our own exhibit booth and needed some signage! And that’s how Chicken Knight accidentally started- technically as the chicken and the knight on separate banners:

Also pictured is our sister brand Simplicity Metrics’ banner and Jesse’s amazing scooter that lived in the Baltimore office at that time.

The chicken + knight combo were a hit. They made it onto the same surface for the first time with that year’s staff sweatshirt:

Dayna, her sweatshirt, and her backyard Canadian Narnia-like woods

And then, rather than facing off, they made their peace and Knight first rode Chicken for a Next Day Animations marketing video that year…

Chicken Knight actually accidentallysuper-intentionally embodies our core values of Partnership, Inventiveness, Clarity (cutting to the heart of the matter with a sword!) and Authenticity (because as our Productions Manager, Sage, points out, “Chicken Knight doesn’t cave to pressures to be a more conventional chicken or knight, it is living it’s Chicken Knight truth boldly.”)

Where will you see Chicken Knight next? Custom chess sets? Mandatory staff tattoos? Crossing the street? Only time will tell…

We had a great experience with Next Day Animations. Coming from a VERY small office (staff of three), we needed someone who could take our idea and run with it, creating the script and design elements for the video. Given very little to work with, Next Day produced a great video that I feel really reflects who we are as an organization. I highly recommend them to any small nonprofits on a tight budget. The cost is reasonable, plus they saved us a lot of costs in MY time with not having to write or manage a video shoot. Thanks, Next Day, for really understanding a small nonprofit and delivering on everything you promised!!

Definitely a five star company! They listened to what we wanted in an animation video and delivered exactly as we asked. The video has paid for itself many times over by how much interest we have gained in our product due the public viewing it. Next Day Animations is a friendly company with great customer service and videos at a price that any company can afford.

The friendly group at Next Day Animations ensured that the creation of our scribing video went smoothly. We had no experience with this type of work, but that didn't matter. They answered every question we had and made it fun and easy. Their team truly cares that you end up with what you had envisioned. We look forward to working with them again.

i work with a lot of agencies, vendors and contractors and Next Day is far and away one of the best. Not only are they priced reasonably, do what they say, and produce quality work, but they take the time to understand our business so the first time we see something from them its 80% of the way there already. Can't recommend them highly enough.

The whiteboard animation that Next Day Animations created exceeded our expectations. The team is knowledgable with excellent attention to detail. They communicate their process seamlessly and work hard to ensure the final product is flawless. We look forward to working with them in the future!

Next Day Animations has been incredible to work with to create educational whiteboard videos. Our non-profit is committed to conscious raising and promoting awareness around critical issues that affect our local communities. Next Day Animations has been able to distill complex ideas into short, but effective educational and engaging videos. Next Day's entire team is incredibly friendly and easy to work with, and they are super responsive as well. Also, the process of creating a video is pretty efficient as well. We have enjoyed our creative work with Next Day Animations and look forward to making more whiteboard animation videos in the future!

It was a pleasure to work with the Next Day Animations team! They are kind, professional, and SO quick/efficient. Would certainly recommend them to anyone and work with them again. We are very pleased with our final product and can't wait to start socializing it across our org!

The team at Next Day Animations is terrific and very responsive! They developed a video on what is civil legal aid that creatively explains a complex subject in concise and cogent terms. It will significantly help justice advocates convey the critically important role and value of civil legal assistance.

Next Day Animations is an amazing organization! From the marketing, to the sales follow-up and through the video creation process..each team member was terrific! They are creative while being good listeners, proactive and clear about the process, smart and flexible in their work. We recently received our first completed work and can’t wait to order the next one! Don’t miss an opportunity to work with them!!